Regardless of whether or not one considers its physical appearance attractive, the Perana Z-One breaks necks everywhere it goes.

I piloted this metallic burgundy coupe down a main thoroughfare in car-centric Orange County – these are people who see exotics daily – and everyone gawked as if the two-seater were covered in blinking high-intensity strobe lights. While the exhaust is loud enough to disturb those driving with mobile phones stuck to their faces, it’s not just the acoustic concussion drawing their attention; the Perana’s extraordinarily long nose, aggressive wide stance and massive rear clip tell everyone that this is something special.

After less than an hour behind the wheel, I had interacted with more than a dozen strangers about the alluring Z-One. Some yelled to me at traffic lights, more than a few waved from the curb, and then there was a car full of high school kids who chased me down and encircled me in a parking lot. The attention the Perana commanded was nothing short of astounding.